Schweikert, a Republican who represents the district covering Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, Tempe and other parts of the southeast Valley, listened to constituents and fielded questions about the mortgage market and financial policies.

Emotions ran high as attendees accused Schweikert of pandering to Republican interests.

"There been a lot of talk about tax breaks for the rich," said Ahwatukee Foothills resident Nick Collins, 38. "Are you rich?"

Schweikert, of Fountain Hills, said he lives in a 1,499-square-foot, 32-year-old home.

"I like to think I am middle-class," he replied.

Schweikert, a freshman House member who unseated Rep. Harry Mitchell, D-Ariz., in November, sits on the House Committee on Financial Services.

He has introduced several pieces of legislation, including a measure that would phase out the $1 bill in favor of the dollar coin.

Responding to allegations that the bill won't save money, Schweikert said hundreds of millions of dollars are wasted each year through use of the $1 bill.

The switch could save $184 million a year, or $5.5 billion over 30 years, which is the average circulation length of a dollar coin.

The session at Mustang Library drew more than 50 people, who confronted Schweikert about his financial policies and plans to fix the housing and jobs markets.

Schweikert, a self-described "numbers guy," said he is starting to see the first green blossoms of the real-estate market.

Since taking office, he has been adamant about expanding small business access to capital, he said.

Schweikert authored a bill that would eliminate red tape for small businesses that are traded on public exchanges.

The Small Company Capital Formation Act would exempt companies that plan to sell up to $50 million in shares as part of a public offering from registering with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The current law exempts companies that offer up to $5 million.

Schweikert told the crowd that President Barack Obama mentioned the concept in his recent jobs speech.

"He actually called out a couple pieces of legislation that I've been running through the Financial Services Committee," Schweikert said. "Imagine you're sitting there in a joint session and you hear the president talk about a whole bill you've been working on."

Schweikert had few negative words about the president during Monday's session.

Amid allegations that Republicans are interested only in a power grab, Schweikert said he would "almost have to agree" with the statement.

He told the audience that he believes members of Congress are overpaid. He supports legislation to lower their salaries, which are $174,000 per year for rank-and-file members.

Constituents were largely focused on government regulations in the private sector, which Schweikert has said are bad for jobs. Some accused him and Republicans of wrongly supporting weakened regulations and opposing environment efforts including the Clean Air Act.